A Christmas cubicle decorating contest is a workplace activity where employees decorate their cubicles around a festive theme and compete for prizes. To run one successfully, set a date in early December, establish clear rules, promote the contest widely, organize fair judging, and offer fun rewards that recognize participation.
The holiday season is one of the best times to bring a little extra energy into the office. And few activities do that better than a Christmas cubicle decorating contest. It’s low-cost, easy to organize, and—when done right—gives employees something to genuinely look forward to.
Whether you’re an HR manager planning your first office cubicle Christmas decorating contest or a team lead looking to level up a recurring tradition, this guide covers everything you need: how to plan it, theme ideas to spark creativity, judging tips, and ways to make the whole experience memorable.
What Is a Christmas Cubicle Decorating Contest?
A holiday cubicle decorating contest is a workplace activity where employees decorate their individual cubicles or office spaces around a festive theme. Entries are then evaluated—by peers, managers, or both—based on criteria like creativity, originality, and theme execution. Winners receive prizes, bragging rights, and, most importantly, a moment in the spotlight.
Why host one? A few good reasons:
Adds festive energy to the workplace — A well-decorated office transforms the day-to-day environment into something that actually feels like the holidays.
Boosts morale and employee engagement — Giving employees a fun, low-stakes outlet lifts spirits during a period that can feel hectic.
Encourages creativity and collaboration — Cubicle decorating contests invite people to think outside the box, often sparking conversations and connections that wouldn’t happen otherwise.
How to Plan an Office Cubicle Decorating Contest
Good planning is what separates a forgettable event from one employees request every year. Here’s how to build yours from the ground up.
1. Set the Date
Choose a timeframe that gives employees enough runway to participate without adding stress to an already busy season. Early to mid-December tends to work well—it’s festive enough to feel timely but early enough to avoid the end-of-year crunch. Allow at least one week for decorating and a second week for judging.
2. Establish Contest Rules
Clear rules are the foundation of a fair and enjoyable office cubicle decorating contest. Before you announce anything, nail down the following:
- Decoration guidelines and theme parameters — Are entries restricted to a single theme, or is it open-ended?
- Space limitations — Define what counts as “the cubicle” (walls, desk surface, surrounding floor space?).
- Safety requirements — No fire hazards, no obstructed walkways, and only battery-operated lights. Make sure decorations comply with any applicable fire codes and accessibility standards.
- Judging criteria — Creativity, originality, theme adherence, and overall impact are popular benchmarks.
Share these rules early and often so nobody is caught off guard.
3. Form a Planning Committee
Running a cubicle decorating contest solo is doable, but a small planning team makes it easier. Assign clear roles:
- Communications lead — Handles announcements, reminders, and promotion.
- Supply coordinator — Sources and distributes decorating materials.
- Judging organizer — Coordinates the voting process and collects results.
Even two or three people sharing the load makes a meaningful difference.
4. Promote the Contest
A great contest with low turnout is a missed opportunity. Spread the word through:
- Office emails and Slack messages
- Team meetings and hallway announcements
- Posters or digital flyers in common areas
Once the initial buzz is out there, sustain it. Share decorating tips from previous years, post countdowns, and tease sneak peeks of festive supplies. The more anticipation you build, the more participation you’ll get.
5. Budget for Decorations
Not everyone has a garage full of holiday decor. Keep the playing field level by:
- Providing low-cost materials like garland, tinsel, and wrapping paper
- Setting up a shared decoration station where employees can borrow or donate supplies
- Encouraging DIY creativity and the reuse of items already in the office
The goal is to make the cubicle decorating contest accessible to everyone, regardless of what they have at home.
6. Encourage Participation
Sometimes people need a little nudge. Boost engagement by:
- Offering prizes or incentives worth competing for
- Allowing team entries so employees can collaborate on a single cubicle
- Recognizing all participants, not just the winners
Even a simple shout-out or certificate goes a long way in making people feel seen.
Christmas Cubicle Decorating Contest Ideas and Tips
Stuck on where to start? Here are some cubicle Christmas decorating contest ideas to get your team’s creative juices flowing.
Popular Themes
Winter Wonderland — Think snowflakes, white and silver tones, and faux snow.
Santa’s Workshop — Toy-making vibes, elves, and plenty of red and green.
Christmas Around the World — Each cubicle represents a different country’s holiday traditions.
Ugly Sweater Theme — Loud patterns, clashing colors, and maximum cheese.
Holiday Movie Scenes — Recreate iconic moments from films like Elf, Home Alone, or The Holiday.
You can offer a fixed theme for everyone or let employees choose their own direction. Both approaches work—it just depends on how much structure your team prefers.
Decorating Tips
Wrap it up — Use wrapping paper to cover cubicle walls for an instant, cohesive transformation.
Add sparkle safely — Battery-operated fairy lights create a warm, festive glow without the fire risk.
Repurpose office supplies — Paper clips, binder clips, and sticky notes can all become quirky ornaments with a little imagination.
Go interactive — Motion-activated decor or a small speaker playing holiday music adds an extra dimension to a cubicle.
Pro tip: Encourage employees to tell a story with their cubicle. Entries with a clear narrative—a scene, a character, a concept—tend to be more memorable and stand out during judging.
Judging, Prizes, and Making It Memorable
Set Up the Judging Process
How you select winners matters. Each method has its advantages:
- Peer voting — Inclusive and democratic, works well in smaller offices.
- Management panel — More structured, useful when impartiality is important.
- Anonymous ballots — Reduces social pressure and tends to produce fairer results.
Whichever method you choose, make the criteria visible before voting begins so participants know what they’re being judged on.
Offer Fun Award Categories
Rather than a single winner, create multiple categories to recognize more people:
- Most Creative
- Funniest Cubicle
- Best Use of Office Supplies
- Merriest Theme
Multiple categories mean more winners, more recognition, and a more inclusive experience overall.
Provide Meaningful Prizes
Prizes don’t need to be expensive to feel rewarding. Popular options include:
- Gift cards or custom gift certificates
- Coffee or hot chocolate gift baskets
- Early dismissal passes
- Festive certificates with a personalized message
Even a well-designed certificate acknowledging the win carries more meaning than you might expect.
Make It Shareable
The memories you capture extend the life of the contest well beyond the event itself:
- Take photos and short videos of every decorated cubicle
- Feature highlights in your company newsletter or internal intranet
- Post on company social media accounts (with employee permission)
- Archive winning entries so future organizers can reference them for inspiration
These small steps help cement the cubicle decorating contest as something the whole company is proud of—not just the people who participated.
Quick Checklist: How to Run a Cubicle Decorating Contest
Use this as your go-to reference when planning:
- Choose a date and define the timeline
- Set rules, safety guidelines, and themes
- Form a planning committee and assign roles
- Promote the contest through multiple channels
- Provide decoration guidance and shared materials
- Organize judging criteria, voting method, and award categories
- Source prizes and recognition items
- Capture and share results across company channels
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you plan a Christmas cubicle decorating contest?
Start by choosing a date in early to mid-December, then set clear rules covering theme, space limits, safety, and judging criteria. Promote the contest through email, Slack, and team meetings. Provide accessible decorating materials, establish a fair judging process, and offer prizes that make participation feel worthwhile. Sharing results afterward helps build momentum for future events.
What are some cubicle Christmas decorating contest ideas?
Popular themes include Winter Wonderland, Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Around the World, Ugly Sweater, and Holiday Movie Scenes. For decorating, encourage employees to use wrapping paper on cubicle walls, battery-operated lights, DIY ornaments made from office supplies, and interactive or story-driven elements. Entries that tell a cohesive visual story tend to perform best in judging.
How do you judge an office cubicle decorating contest?
The three main judging formats are peer voting, management panels, and anonymous ballots. Peer voting is the most inclusive; anonymous ballots tend to be the fairest. Use clear criteria—creativity, originality, theme execution, and overall impact—and consider offering multiple award categories so more participants feel recognized.
Make It a Tradition Worth Repeating
A well-executed Christmas cubicle decorating contest does more than break up the routine. It gives employees a shared experience—something to laugh about, bond over, and look forward to when December rolls around again.
The formula is straightforward: set clear rules, keep participation accessible, make judging fair, and celebrate the results. Do that, and your office cubicle Christmas decorating contest has every chance of becoming a holiday staple your team genuinely loves.
Start planning early, get your supplies ready, and let the decorating begin.